Friday, May 30, 2014

Farewell to Our Spring 2014 Intern

AAHI bids a heartwarming farewell to Sarah Tran, our spring intern from the University of Maryland, College Park. Along with assisting AAHI staff on a day-to-day basis, Sarah supported the planning and implementation of outreach and helped us prepare for our Empowering Community Health Organizations (E.C.H.O.) Workshop.


We asked Sarah a couple of questions to get a closer look into her experience at AAHI.

What did you enjoy most about your time at AAHI?
I really enjoyed interacting with different communities during outreach and being able to observe the planning process of AAHI's outreach efforts and core health programs.

What skills did you develop during your internship period?
At outreach events, I talked with people from various cultures so I learned how to communicate in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. I also learned a lot more about professionalism, time management, and organization.

How has this internship shaped your future career goals?
This internship has definitely shaped my future career in nursing and community health. I would love to pursue a future career in nursing so learning how to communicate with diverse communities, and about the different health disparities that Asian Americans face, definitely help prepare me.


Sarah, we truly appreciate all of your hard work and contributions to AAHI. Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck as you embark on your public health career path!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Recap: E.C.H.O. Workshop #7 - Mental Health in Our Communities

On Wednesday, May 21st, AAHI partnered with the African American Health Program and Latino Health Initiative to host the "Mental Health in Our Communities" workshop. This was the seventh workshop in our Empowering Community Health Organizations (E.C.H.O.) Project, which provides practical and professional workshops designed to build the capacity and sustainability of community organizations.


The workshop was led by the Manager of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Access to Behavioral Health, who gave a presentation on mental health, a typical encounter with a mental health professional, and local support services. In addition, there was a group exercise in which attendees had the opportunity to discuss how they would respond to certain mental health case scenarios. The night concluded with a brief question and answer session.


We were happy to see that there was a full house of over 95 attendees, representing about 43 organizations from the community. Thank you to our speaker, attendees, Steering Committee, Health Promoters, volunteers, and staff for making this yet another great workshop. We look forward to seeing everyone again in the fall for our next E.C.H.O. workshop!

Please click here to read the workshop summary (14.6 MB), which includes the contact information of the speaker and electronic versions of the handouts provided at the workshop.

Click on the thumbnail below to see more pictures from the night!
05-21-14 ECHO #7

Friday, May 23, 2014

Family Health & Wellness Day


Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Rd, Rockville, MD 20851
Cost: Free

The Prekindergarten/Head Start Unit of Montgomery County Public Schools would like to invite you to participate in their Family Health and Wellness Day! The event features general health and wellness information, entertainment, and outdoor activities for the whole family. Breakfast will be served.

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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/23/14.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

AAPI Heritage Month Celebration

Date: Friday, May 30, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Historic Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (Metro accessible via U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial.)
Cost: Free, but registration is required.

Join Mayor Vincent C. Gray in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and in recognizing the 10th anniversary of the Language Access Act! Come and enjoy a night of lively performances featuring local and international Asian artists, where tradition meets pop and heartbeats echo drum beats.

Please RSVP by visiting https:///2014aapihm.eventbrite.com. Reasonable accommodations are provided upon request. Please provide 7 days advance notice. For more information, please email oapia@dc.gov, call 202-727-3120, or visit http://apia.dc.gov/.

This event is organized by the DC Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs.


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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/22/14.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Women's Cancer Control Program Open House

Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902 (Next to the Wheaton Metro Station)
Cost: Free

The Women's Cancer Control Program (WCCP) is pleased to announce that they are now enrolling new applicants for free breast and cervical cancer screenings. Applicants must be Montgomery County residents, uninsured, limited income, and age 40 to 64. The program provides free mammograms, clinical breast exams, and Pap tests, as well as case management. In addition, through its Expanded Services grant, the WCCP also provides diagnostic follow-up of abnormal results for all eligible County residents. Please call 240-777-1750 for more information or to receive an application.

At the WCCP Open House on May 28th, the program staff will provide applications and will be available to answer any questions you may have about the program.

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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/21/14.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Adventist HealthCare Walking Club


Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Location: Westfield Montgomery Mall (Food Court), 7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817
Cost: Free

Adventist HealthCare and Westfield Montgomery Mall have teamed up to promote healthy and active lifestyles in the community through the Adventist HealthCare Walking Club. Adventist HealthCare experts will be on site to provide free blood pressure screenings, various other health screenings, and information on local health services and events. People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome!

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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/16/14.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Job Opportunity at AAHI!

AAHI is currently seeking a full-time Office Services Coordinator! The Office Services Coordinator will provide office and administrative support services for AAHI. Responsibilities include: scheduling and calendar maintenance; visitor and phone reception; data entry and management; office supply procurement; board and committee support; meeting and event coordination; and office administration process improvement.

For more information on the qualifications and how to apply, please click here.

Please share the job description with your friends, family, and community members. This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in working in the public health field!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Recap: GMC Annual Bazaar

On April 26th, Global Mission Church (GMC) hosted their Annual Bazaar in Silver Spring. The event offered various activities throughout the day, such as cultural performances and a health fair. At the health fair, AAHI Health Promoters provided information about breast cancer, hepatitis B, osteoporosis, local resources, diabetes, and patient-physician communication. Community members also had the opportunity to receive bone density screenings.


Thank you to our partners at GMC for hosting a great event!

Please click on the image below to see more pictures from the bazaar.
04-26-14 Global Mission Church Annual Bazaar

Monday, May 12, 2014

AAHI's May 2014 Newsletter

The May 2014 issue of AAHI's newsletter is now available online! Please click the image below to read a full-size version of the newsletter. If you would like to receive our newsletters via email, please subscribe to our mailing list.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Recap: Montgomery College Rockville Wellness Fair

On April 16th, AAHI joined Montgomery College, Rockville Campus for their Wellness Fair. This health fair was a wonderful opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to receive more information about different health topics and local health services.


AAHI provided carbon monoxide screenings and a variety of general health information at our outreach table. We also introduced a fun, interactive game about osteoporosis. Students and faculty enjoyed learning more about great food sources of calcium. In addition, we were excited to co-table with our partners at the National Library of Medicine, who provided information about how to use online resources and find credible sources.



Thank you to our partners at Montgomery College Rockville for inviting us to your Wellness Fair - we truly enjoyed our time there!

Please click on the thumbnail below to see more pictures from the health fair.
04-16-14 Montgomery College Rockville Wellness Fair

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

May Is Also...

Source: http://mccchurch.org/files/2013/03/May_APAHM-300x250.jpg
AAHI is also excited to celebrate Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month in May! We are proud to celebrate the wonderful history, achievements, and contributions of the APA community across Montgomery County. Montgomery County is home to nearly half of Maryland's Asian American population. According to the 2010 US Census, approximately 42.5% of Maryland's Asian American population resides in Montgomery County which is equivalent to about 13.9% of the County's population. AAHI continually strives to identify health care needs, reduce health disparities, and eliminate barriers for the Asian American community. We would like to thank all our partners for their dedication in helping us build a healthier community! 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Caring for the Skin You're In


Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 S. Park Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Cost: Free, but registration is required. To register, please visit online at http://goo.gl/gwx9p2.

Changes to your skin are common as you age, but it is important to stay informed in order to determine when you should see a doctor. Join Suburban Hospital and Dr. Melissa Abrams to discuss common skin conditions, what to look for between your appointments, and steps that can be taken to protect your skin.

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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/6/14.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Women's Health Event

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2014
Time: 9:30 am - 2:30 pm (Registration starts at 9:30 am and the program begins at 10:00 am.)
Location: Professional and Community Education Center at Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Cost: Free, but registration is required. To register or for more information, please visit online
at HolyCrossHealth.org/WHE or call 301-754-8800.

Need inspiration to get healthy? Join Holy Cross Hospital for their fun and informative women's health event to get the motivation you need to take charge of your health! Receive health screenings (blood pressure, vision, bone density), participate in informative health lectures, and enjoy a seated massage. There will be door prizes, giveaways, refreshments, and much more!


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Disclaimer: Please note the information provided above may be subject to change. Contact the respective organizations to ensure the most current information. Updated on 5/5/14.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Good Luck, Tae!

AAHI bids a heartwarming farewell to our Program Coordinator, Tae Hyun Kim. Tae first joined AAHI as a Health Promoter and shared his passion for health with the community for over six years. He then became Program Coordinator where he maintained internal and external communications, conducted research on emerging health issues, and designed and implemented health education programs. His eagerness, cheerfulness, and enthusiasm were always appreciated by those he helped and worked with. Tae not only made significant contributions to AAHI, but also to the local community and Asian American health.



Tae, we will miss you dearly! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to AAHI during your time here. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

Thursday, May 1, 2014

May Is...

Source: http://g.psychcentral.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/may_mental_health_awareness.jpg
May marks an especially exciting time for AAHI as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month!

According to the Office of Minority Health, mental illness affects one in four adults and one in ten children in the United States. Asian Americans are less likely to receive diagnosis and treatment for their mental illness, have less access to and availability of mental health services, and often receive a poorer quality of mental health care. During Mental Health Awareness Month, AAHI encourages you to help raise awareness in your organization and community!

As a reminder, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services' African American Health Program, Asian American Health Initiative, and Latino Health Initiative are hosting their free training workshop, "Mental Health in Our Communities," as part of the Empowering Community Health Organizations (E.C.H.O.) Project. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm. and will take place at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Great Hall at One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910. It will provide an overview of mental health, its disparities, and support services in Montgomery County. Participants will have the opportunity to share their communities' experiences with accessing mental health services.

Registration is required and space is limited. Please register by Friday, May 9, 2014. You can complete the registration form by clicking here or by calling Shannon Lee, AAHI Office Services Coordinator, at 240-777-4517. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Lee via telephone or email at Shannon.Lee@montgomerycountymd.gov



AAHI is looking forward to celebrating another awareness month in May. Can you guess what it is? Stay tuned to our social media to find out!